What should go into public policy on digital culture?

The Colombian ICT Ministry in association with Trust for the Americas, are currently working on setting out an agenda for the public policy for Digital Culture in Colombia, South America.

There are various ways the term ‘digital culture’ is used, and the consequent definitions tend to coalesce around ideas of digital information creation and use through online means. The use of the term ‘culture’ refers to the emergence of a means of interaction and being, and a community that partakes in these interactions. The affixed term ‘digital’ is thus used as a contrast with an analog means of communication. We define digital culture as the evolving use of digital information as a means of social and economic exchange, usually through a range of technological artifacts.

In this context, we understand digital culture as a social practice. Therefore, we would like to promote crowd wisdom to resolve the questions of: which are the strategic guidelines to develop a long term public policy for digital culture in Colombia? whom are involved? what specific topics should we include? Do you have any specific references or examples we must check? What should be at the core of digital public policy?

It is the trend around the world to promote internet access. All governments are adopting agendas that promote the use of the internet, in Colombia we have several initiatives that allows access to people that did not have that before. However, the core of the discussion is that even when people have access they do not know exactly the potential of the internet nor how to use it "responsibly". It is important to grant access but educating people on the subject is also needed so that as a society we have a standard of digital literacy. In Colombia they have developed http://www.enticconfio.gov.co/ a site that teaches people about responsible usage of the Internet.

Do you know of any particular examples or policies that would help us?

According to UNESCO “Culture should be regarded as the set of distinctive spiritual, material, intellectual and emotional features of society or a social group, and that it encompasses, in addition to art and
literature, lifestyles, ways of living together, value systems,traditions and beliefs.” (2002). We believe digital culture is in simple terms an extension of that definition in digital terms. In that sense, we completely agree with you. Do you know of any particular examples where this was accomplished? Do you know anyone who could guide us?

We want to make public policy in terms a digital culture a participative exercise, who should choose what goes into digital culture but the people who are part of that? However, we need participation and crowd wisdom. So if you have any concrete examples of specific public policies that we can look at it would be appreciate it.

Jul 13 2013:
Here in China,Confucian thoughts guide chinese people innerworld morality.And of course there are lots of ancient chinese dramas have been spreaded various cultures in china.
I think participative exercise is:Yoga,meditation...

I remind you that we are working for an NGO that is helping develop public policies in terms of digital culture. According to a study conducted last year by the Centro Nacional de Consultoria (National consulting center) it was reported that 94% of colombian homes have a cellphone, 35% have a desktop and 29% have a laptop. However, only 44% of people claim to have internet at home, which in urban areas goes up to 55% and in rural areas goes down to 26%. 17% of colombian homes have a smartphone from which 83% claim to have internet on their phones.

What this means is that a large number of colombians do not have internet access, and believe or not according to the study this happens because people do not find internet to be useful. What we are trying to find are ways in which we can expand the use of internet in Colombia in ways that empower the population rather than simply setting up internet cafes in rural areas to increase internet access. How can we show people that the internet is a valuable tool that has analog, tangible applications in their lives? What are the main aspects that should be taken into account in terms of digital public policy that will allow more people to access, use, appropriate and participate online?

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